Apparatus for pneumatically converting perforated film messages into electrical impulses



Nov. 11, 1958 E. LEITZ ETAL APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATICALLY CONVERTING PERFORATED FILM MESSAGES INTO ELECTRICAL IMPULSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1957 E S O O .5358 3 2% w m M m V ,f W.

w c mwwd vi 55 Nov. 11, 1958 E. LEITZ ETAL 2,860,200

APPARATUSFOR PNEUMATICALLY CONVERTING PERFORATED FILM MESSAGES INTO ELECTRICAL IMPULSES E Filed May 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5' Fig. 3

Nov. 11, 1958 I E. LEITZ ET AL 2,860,200 APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATICALLY CONVERTING PERFORATED FILM MESSAGES INTO ELECTRICAL IMPULSES Filed May 17.- 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 KM wwu i H R 6 nF N RWW EL Nov. 11, 1958 E. LEITZ ETAL A 2,860,200

APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATICALLY CONVERTING PERFORATED A FILM MESSAGES INTO ELECTRICAL IMPULSES 'Filed May 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS United States Patent APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATICALLY CONVERT- ING PERFORATED FILM MESSAGES INTO ELECTRICAL IMPULSES Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar, Lahn, Erhard Briick, Atzbach, and Wolfgang Uhl, Gieszen, Germany, assignors to Ernst Leitz, G. m. b. H., a corporation of Germany Application May 17, 1957, Serial No. 659,955

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-46) This invention relates to improvements in devices or systems for converting messages in the form of perforations in a strip of perforated film into electrical impulses to be processed in an electrically operated calculating machine. Such devices or arrangements employ a strip of film or a card in which signals or messages are produced in the form of perforations which are used as steering means for the production of electrical impulses which are conveyed to electrically operated calculating machines to be processed into readable form. Punched cards are sometimes used instead of perforated film. The use of perforated films or cards and the use of electrically operated calculating machines for this purpose is known.

Prior devices have used pins which pass through the perforations and then close electric contacts. Or contact brushes have been used for the same purpose. This type of operation may be called mechanical and requires a large complicated system of levers and other mechanical means, particularly if the field of operation is relatively large. Such mechanisms are difiicult to adjust, are exposed 'to much wear and require a relatively large space. If contact brushes are used they may cause metalization of the film strip and impart conductivity thereto and cause false impulses. Both of these prior arrangements cause much wear on the film or card. Another disadvantage is that When mechanical means are used for converting the perforated message into electrical impulses, the speed of the system is limited by the speed required in order to move the mechanical elements and the distances through which they must travel.

In order to avoid these and other disdvantages of prior devices, the object of this invention is to provide means whereby the convertibility of the perforated message in the film and the operation of the contact elements in the system is pneumatically actuated and operated. The pneumatic operation occurs in that each movable contact element is provided with a pressure air cylinder which receives the air, as the actuating force, through the perforations in the film or card. No mechanical element passes through the perforations in the film. The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention and show in Fig. 1 a general view of the entire apparatus, partly in section and partly diagrammatic.

Fig. 2 is a view in section showing the film in position to be moved through the contacts unit together with the system for pneumatically closing the contacts.

Fig. 3 is a similar view but shows the film held in place while the air passes through the perforations to operate the contacts.

Fig. 4 shows how a plurality of contacts may be arranged to occupy a restricted space.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view on the line IV--IV of Figure 4.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the control means for the air.

Fig. 1 illustrates the entire apparatus in a general over all picture in which the invention is embodied in a system in which the perforated film 12 is moved through a contacts unit 4 by a mechanism generally indicated at 50. The unit 4 is connected by air ducts A and B with an air supply and air control unit 1819 to which air under pressure is supplied by an air pump 46 driven by an electric motor 45. As the film is moved through the contacts unit 4, air under pressure passes through the perforations in the film, while the film is held immovable, and causes certain electrically connected contacts to close corresponding circuits whereby electrical impulses are conveyed to the calculating machine 37 via connecting wires 1a. The calculating machine then processes the received impulses into readable messages in a well known manner. Details of the electrically operated calculating machine and its place in the system is not described or illustrated. For the purpose of understanding this invention it is sufficient to note that the machine 37 is connected to the motor 45 by wires 45a and the receiving side of the machine 37 is connected to a relay 31 by wires 3112.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the film 12 with perforations 12a is moved stepwise through the contacts unit 4 which consists of a housing 4 which is fixed during operations and a movable housing or cylinder 8. The housing 4 encloses 21 contacts space 3 which contains fixed contacts 1 and movable contacts 2.

As shown in Figs. 4, and 5, the movable contacts 2 are mounted in parallel on springs 2b which may be arranged in intermeshing formation, Fig. 4, whereby to occupy a relatively small space containing a relatively large number of contacts.

Each contact 2 closes an impulse circuit when the contact 2 engages the contact 1 immediately above it. The contact 2 is moved upwards by a pin 51) of a piston 5 which moves within an air cylinder 5:: under air pressure admitted underneath the piston through the air inlet 6. The inlets 6, one for each contact 2, terminate in an upper film pressure surface 7 above the film 12.

Within the contacts housing 4 the film is held against the surface 7 by a lower film pressure surface 9 of a double action piston 13 which moves within the housing or cylinder 13, Fig. 3. The film pressure surface 9 is formed within a guiding flange 10 which encloses an air chamber 11 connected by air ducts 15 with a common air chamber 13b from which an air duct 13a leads to a space 14a underneath the piston 13. A huh or projection in the housing 14 serves to close the lower end of the air duct 13a when the piston 13 is in it lower position as shown in Fig. 2. The space 14a surrounding this hub portion is connected with the air duct A. The space 14b within the cylinder 14 is connected with the air duct B.

The space between the said two film pressure surfaces 7 and 9 form a film canal for the passing and positioning of the film between the two units or housings 4 and 13. Air duct B has a side branch B1 which connectswith the contacts space 3. When air underpressure is admitted through duct A the piston 13 is lifted from the position in Fig. 2 to the position in Fig. 3 and pressure air then passes upward via duct 13a, chamber 13b, ducts 15, through the perforations 12a in the film and thence via ducts 6 to the piston cylinders 5a to lift the corresponding pistons 5 with the pins 5b to move the contacts 2 above the thus actuated pistons 5 to engage the conair to pass into the intended contact piston chambers 5a,

The mechanical unit 50 andthe air control units 18 and 19 provide and control the admission of air under pressure to the contacts unit 4 and these operations are dependent upon or controlled by the means for moving the'fil'rnthrough thecontacts unit. The movements of the 'pressure air to the contacts -unit 4 are controlled by a valve disk 20 with openings 20;: and 2012, Fig. 6 The disk is 'rotatably supported between the housing 18 and 19 ona shaft21 having a gear 22 which meshes with a toothed segment 23a. Thelatter is part of a lever 23 swing ably mounted on a shaft 23b. The lever 23 carries acamfroller 24 adapted to run on a stop disk 30 or to rn'n on a cam 30b on the disk whereby to impart an oscillatingniovement to the segment 23a which in turn oscillates the valve dis'k20.

Theair under pressure may be supplied from an air pressure planter from an air pump 46-which is connected with an'air cylinder'47'by a duct 25. The air pressure is reg'ulated by a valve 48 which is connected with the air unit 19 and the one side of the valve disk 20 by the duct 25. As shown' in Fig. 6, pressure air coming in through the duct 25 passes through duct 25a, valve opening 20a duct AI-lito duct A and thence to the contacts unit 4. In the latter the air passes through the passages 14a, 13a, 13b, 15, film perforations 12a to the air cylinders Sit to lift the pistons in order to move the contacts 2 into engagement with the corresponding contacts 1 to close corresponding impulse circuits, as will be understood.

At the same time it will be noted that the air in the space 14b and in the contacts chamber 3 is exhausted from the unit 4 through the air ducts B1, B and B2, and the valve disk opening 2012, the duct 26b and 26 to the atmosphere. Thus there will be no air resistance to the closing of the contacts.

In order to open the contacts unit 4 the valve disk 20 has moved about the shaft 21 to its other position and then air is admitted through inlet 25, valve opening 20b, establishing communication betweenducts 25b and 13-1, and duct B -l and B to the unit 4 while air is exhausted through ducts A, A-2, valve opening 20a and ducts 26a and "'26 to the atmosphere. The movement of the valve disk from one position to theother position depends upon Whether "the cam roller 24 runs on the stop disk 30 or runs on the cam 30b. This in turn depends upon the stepwise movement of the film through unit 4.

While the film is held stationary in the unit 4, the perforated message in the film is converted into electrical impulses which pass to the machine 37 to be processed there; While the film moves, the contacts are broken. The stepwise movement of the film is caused by the unit 50 as follows.

The film is moved by a film transport roller 28a on a shaft 28 which also carries a Maltese cross movement 29. Such a Maltese or Geneva stop motion is known and is used for interrupted rotational movement so the details thereof are not described or illustrated. The movement 29 is rotated by a one tooth disk 27 having the single tooth 27a. The disk 27 is carried by an axial- 1y movable rotating shaft 41 which is coupled to the motor 44 .by a coupling 42-43 which permits axial movement of the shaft while it rotates. The shaft 41 also carries a stop disk 30. The tooth 27a is'positioned to enter a recess. 30ain the disk 30, which stops the motion of the Maltese cross' movement in certain positions thereof. The stop. disk .30 carries the cam 3011 which engages the cam roller 24. as the shaft 41 rotates, Figs. 1 and 6. The. cam roller operates the toothed segment 23a to oscillate the valve disk 20, Fig. 6.

.The shaft 41 is moved axially by a cam disk 33 having a curved .groove'. 39 which guides a cam roller 3.4 carried byareciprocating slide 38.. A, stop disk 41a is also carried ,bygthe. shaftAl. The, axial, movement of the shaft 4 1,is governed by a three. armedlever fixedly pivoted at 35. One arm 32a engages the stop disk 412. A secand arm 32c engages the slide 38. The third arm 32b carries the anchor-31a of a magnetic relay 31 connect? ed to the machine 37 by wires 31b. The anchor is normally retracted by a spring 40.

The operations are as follows: The system is brought into ready position by connecting the calculating machine and the motor as shown and to the local line wires,

not shown. The relay is without current and the anchor.

remains retracted. The lever 32 engages the stop disk 41a and prevents axial movement of the shaft 41. The cam groove 39 impart a reciprocal movement to the slide 38 which is otherwise inactive. The single tooth 27a on the disk 27 rotates without engaging the Maltese cross movement. The latter is held stationary by the stop disk 30 as will be understood. The cam 30b does not engage the cam roller 24.

If now perforated messages in the film are to be converted into electrical impulses then the film perforations must be operatively con'nected with the apparatus and this is done by any suitable switch mechanism for connecting the relay 31 electrically with the source of electrical current. This may be done, for example, by a simple push button switch in the calculating machine.

When current flows through the relay, the anchor is attracted. Then the arm 32c falls down behind the slide- 38 so that the slide and the cam roller 34 can not move.

The cam groove 39 in the cam 33 therefore causes the to one another that the cam 30b engages the cam roller.

24 only when the tooth 27a is out of mesh with the Maltese cross movement, or so, that only when the film stands still does the lever 23 move to shift the valve disk 20. The film is moved when the tooth 27a engages the- Maltese cross to move the movement 29 a given distance. When the tooth leaves the movement 29 the latter is prevented from moving by the stop disk 30 as is known. The cam 30!: then engages the cam roller 24 to shift the valve disk 20.

The film is moved a step forward with each complete turning of the shaft 41 so long as the relay is connected in the circuit. If the relay is disconnected, then the three armed lever 32 is moved back into its inactive position by the spring 40, the slide 38 is then released and the lever arm 32a engages the stop disk 41a to return the shaft 41 to initial position. The system or apparatus is however, ready for operation so long as the motor is running.

When the relay is connected electrically the entire apparatus starts to function automatically to process the film and cause the electrical impulses to pass to the calculating machine for further processing. Films or punched cards may be used. Preferable the contacts housing in the contacts unit 4 is made detachable to facilitate the placing of the film in operative position. Thereafter the parts are secured in operating positions.

In the appended claims the expression film is to be understood as including ordinary films, punched cards or other means which may be used to contain perforations.

or punched holes symbolizing one or more messages or signals. The contacts 1 and 2, the wires 1a and the calculating machine 37 is to be understood as acollective electricalsystem which receives electric impulses and make use of them for whatever purpose the machine 37, or any other electrically operated unit, may be designed.

and used. The unit 37 need not be a calculating machine, as this term is generallyunderstoodt The unit 37 is in this disclosure a part of an electric system which is operated by electric impulses caused by the closing of the contacts which are pneumatically actuated.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for converting a message in the of perforations in a film into electric impulses in an electric system comprising, in combination, a perforated film containing a perforation message, an electric system, fixed electrical contacts in said system, movable electric contacts interposed between said film and said fixed contacts for engagement with the latter, said contacts being arranged in contacting pairs equal in number to the number of perforations spaced across the film, pressure air actuated means adapted to engage said movable contacts to close upon the corresponding fixed contacts, means for supporting the said film, said contacts and said movable air actuated means in mutual operative relation, means for supplying air under pressure to flow through the message symbolizing perforations in the film toward a like number of said air actuated means to operate the latter to close said contacts to provide electric impulses in said electric system, means for moving the film forwardly between the closing operations of said contacts, means for supplying air under pressure to said film supporting means and to said contacts closing means, separate valve means connected to and between said air supply and said film supporting means and closing means, and mechanism controlled by said film moving means for operating the said valve means in response to the speed of movement of the film through the apparatus.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said air actuated means are double action air actuated pistons to engage the corresponding movable electric contacts.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said means for supporting the film consists of a fixed housing having a film pressure surface engaging the upper surface of the film, a movable housing movable Within the fixed housing and having a film pressure surface engaging the under surface of the film and means for supplying air under pressure to move said movable housing within said fixed housing to move the last named pressure surface to contact the film.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 including a fixed and a movable housing Within the fixed housing, said housings forming a contacts unit, a contact chamber formed within said fixed housing, means for supporting said fixed and movable electric contacts in pairs of contacts within the said chamber, means for supporting the film stationary between said housings, an air supply for supplying air under pressure to said housings and the film therein, air ducts in said movable housing for connecting the perforations in the film with said air supply and an air duct connecting the said contact chamber with the .air supply.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 including a fixed and a movable housing forming a contacts unit, said fixed housing enclosing a contact chamber, means for supporting all of said contacts Within said contact chamber, means for supporting said air actuated means in said fixed housing in operative alinement with the pairs of contacts, means for supporting the film stationary between said housings while air under pressure flows through the perforations in the film, air passages in said movable housing connecting the perforations in the film with the air supply, an air duct leading from said contact chamber to the atmosphere and an air duct in said movable housing leading from the air supply to the perforations in the film.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 including springs for supporting said movable contacts in groups of contacts in intermeshing relation whereby a large number of contacts may be contained within a restricted space.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said means for supporting the film, the contacts and the air actuated contacts closing means consists of a fixed housing and a movable housing Within the fixed housing, each of said housings having a film contacting surface to support the stationary film, air ducts in said housings connected to said air supply for moving said movable housing within said fixed housing and position its film contacting surface in contact with the film under air pressure from said air supply and simultaneously therewith provide passages for the air to flow to and through the perforations in the film to close said contacts and for simultaneously therewith provide air exits to the atmos phere for removing air resistance against the movement of said movable housing through the film perforations.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 including valve means connected to and interposed between said air supply and said film supporting means for controlling the admission and exit of air from the film supporting means and means for operating said valve means in response to the speed of movement of the film through. the said apparatus.

9. An apparatus for converting a message in the form of perforations in a film into electric impulses in an electric system comprising, in combination, a perforated film containing a perforation message, an electric system, supporting means for the film, means for supplying air under pressure to flow through the perforations in the film, normally open electric contacts connected in the said electric system, means actuated by the air flowing through the perforations in the film for closing said contacts to provide electric impulses in the electric system, means for moving the film stepwise through its supporting means, valve means controlling the flow of air through the film perforations in response to the speed of the operations of said film stepwise moving means and means for supplying power to said air supplying means and said film moving means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,588,831 Yokoyama Jan. 13, 1926 

